Grow Your Mind

In 2024 Durack School began engaging with and implementing the Grow Your Mind Program (GYM).

According to research, Australian students are more anxious about schoolwork compared to the OECD average “with females, indigenous students and those from low socio-economic backgrounds experiencing the highest levels of stress”.

GYM is a whole school program, working “to build the foundational knowledge and skills essential for looking after mental health and wellbeing”. GYM uses neuroscience and storytelling to create innovative and engaging mental health strategies to enhance the social and emotional wellbeing of children, educators and families. It is endorsed by the Australian Federal body BeYou.

At Durack School, our learning has focused on:

• The Animals in our Brain
• The Wise Owl in our prefrontal cortex
• The Guard Dog in our amygdala
• The Sifting Sooty in our reticular activating system
• The Elephant in our hippocampus
• The Sensitive Octopus in our insular cortex
• The Golden Rules of Resilience
• The Golden Rules of Friendship
• Growth Mindset – “Which branch will I reach today?

For more information, please check out GYM’s social media pages and their website https://app.growyourmind.life/